Ikea to be awarded by World Childhood Foundation

ReporterSeptember 25, 2015September 25, 2015Comments Off on Ikea to be awarded by World Childhood Foundation

World Childhood Foundation has announced that the IKEA Foundation is a winner of the Childhood ThankYou Award, in recognition of its groundbreaking partnership with UNHCR and its recent commitment to climate action.

”I hope that the Childhood ThankYou Award will inspire other corporate foundations to follow IKEA’s example and step up their efforts to give more children a chance in life,” comments Joanna Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA.

The award will be presented in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden at World Childhood Foundation’s annual gala in New York City. It was established to recognise the individuals and organisations that are significantly promoting children’s rights worldwide.

The IKEA Foundation is being honoured for its extraordinary efforts and investments to ensure vulnerable children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential. In particular, the World Childhood Foundation pointed to the Better Shelter—an innovative temporary shelter designed for the many families displaced by conflicts and natural disasters—and the IKEA Foundation’s commitment of €400 million through 2020 to support families and communities most impacted by climate change.

“IKEA’s extraordinary commitment and investment in children’s rights and environmental sustainability is unprecedented in the corporate sector. Over the last fifteen years, IKEA and the IKEA Foundation have embarked on improving the situation of vulnerable children in the world, showing the way we can help end the abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence of children,” comments Joanna Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA.

In 2014, the IKEA Foundation invested over 103 million euros to help families and children, many of them refugees. The Foundation has helped thousands of people through cooperation with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). A collaboration which resulted in the creation of the Better Shelter, an innovative temporary housing that can replace tents in refugee camps. The houses are designed for the many people who had to flee from conflicts and natural disasters around the world. IKEA Foundation also recently earmarked over 400 million euros until 2020 to support the families and communities most affected by climate change.

“We work for a world where children who grow up in deprivation and poverty can create a better future for themselves and their families. To send aid to crisis areas and to tackle climate change are crucial elements in achieving this goal. We are deeply honored to receive this award. Our desire is that more businesses and foundations committed to work towards a brighter and more sustainable future for future generations. ” says Per Heggenes, CEO of IKEA Foundation.